The “Expectancy Effect” is the phenomenon by which folk’s perceptions and behavior change as a result of their or others prior beliefs i.e. expectations. It is the very human tendency to live up or down to both our internal self-concept and the assumptions others project upon us. A portion of the idea can be summed up in the saying “Clothes make the man.”

The expectation effect is closely related to the concept of “self-fulfilling prophecy” and if there is any validity to the concept of the “power of attraction” much of it may be that our expectations of what is possible drive our thoughts and actions and thus the situations we create (or don’t) in our life.

The Pygmalion Effect, where students perform better when teachers are told (without basis) that a student is gifted, is a powerful example of the expectation effect as is the placebo effect.

Bottom Line: your belief system, your expectations, your mindset is POWERFUL. Get it fully on your side. Ratchet it upward, focus it forward, believe in you. You are stronger, far stronger, than you know. Goethe’s quote “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be” also applies to how we treat ourselves.

Closing Quotes:

“High expectations are the key to everything.” – Sam Walton

“The quality of our expectations determines the quality of our action.” – A. Godin

“I have high expectations of myself. I always have, always will. That will never waver. I believe in my talent – always have.” – Russell Wilson

“Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality.” – Ralph Marston

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier